CEPI is pleased with the adoption of the EU waste management legislation

The Confederation of European Paper Industries, CEPI, welcomes the adoption of the new directive on waste management and processing adopted yesterday by the European Parliament as it underlines the importance of recycling and will increase the efficiency of recycling in Europe.

The European Paper Industry, through the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) committed to meet a voluntary recycling rate target of 66% in EU 27 plus Switzerland and Norway by 2010, which is higher than in any other region in the world. Today, the industry is pleased to see the first apparition of recycling targets in the waste directive, including the 50% by 2020 for paper along with other waste streams.

"The new text does not go as far as our own commitment but it is a very good step in the right direction. Europe will only reach its goal of becoming a recycling society if modern legislation facilitates it with well written definitions and the European Paper Industry is an example of how high levels of sustainable recycling can be achieved," said Jori Ringman, CEPI Recycling & Product Director.

"The directive also confirms the implementation of the principle of a five-tier hierarchy (prevention, re-use, recycling, recovery and elimination), which we totally support," he added.

CEPI champions the interests of the pulp and paper industry in Europe. It monitors, analyses and acts upon EU legislation and initiatives relevant to industry, communicating on the industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products. Through CEPI, the paper industry makes expert and constructive contributions to the official European consultation process with industry. CEPI directly represents the National Associations of the paper industry in 18 member countries across Europe.